Ocah Custom made baby carriers

June 03, 2018

HiOCAH is on the move!

Many of you will know that sadly on April 7th the creator of OCAH, Kerry Berry, died at the age of 45, 7 days short of her 46th birthday.

I'm Dave, her husband and father of our 4 daughters. Kerry was determined that her OCAH legacy was to continue, and she knew that the family wasn't going to be able to continue the business that she created from scratch. She built it into an internationally recognised high quality brand. Her father and I started the search for a company to continue the OCAH brand.

Kerry was quite clear from the start what type of company she wanted OCAH to be sold to, one that matched her commitment to a quality product, that had the right ethos, priced at a level that "ordinary" mums could afford, she always strived to produce a perfect carrier that helped to strenghten the bond between the mother and their child.

We entered into talks with one company that seemed to fit Kerry's criteria, but unfortunately it fell through so Kerry wasn't able to know before she died. I posted on the Face books groups, shared a proposal with a number of companies and we had a number of offers.

I am happy to announce that we found a company that matched Kerry's aspirations and we have signed a contract with 2Lambie for them to continue with the OCAH brand and take it to the next level.

Thank you for all the likes, comment pictures etc on Facebook, your support has been really appreciated by all of here.

April 16, 2018

Hi
I’m Dave better known as Kerry’s other half, thanks you to all of you who have posted pictures of you carrying your kids in an OCAH carrier, it meant so much to Kerry to see how much your kids liked to be carried in an OCAH.
As you may know Kerry was diagnosed with Breast cancer in April 2016, she went through a regime of chemotherapy, a mastectomy, and had her lymph nodes removed while continuing to produce the “odd” OCAH carrier. By January 2017 the doctors said she was clear. In May/June 2017 she stared having headaches which led us to Leicester Royal Infirmary (LRI), where several brain tumours were found. I was told that she wouldn’t be coming out of hospital, but Kerry liked to confound people so having arrived at the LRI on the Sunday, we left on the following Saturday!
Once her radio therapy had been completed things seemed to get back to “normal”, for the Berry household, Kerry was slower getting around didn’t feel safe driving which left her frustrated but accepting of it. This continued through the summer including a holiday in Cromer, Abbie’s, and the Caety and Libby’s (the twins!) birthdays went passed, into autumn, Hannah’s birthday then Christmas. This did include two more brief stays at the LRI, but everything was stable.
Late January saw the return of the headaches and the progression of her illness, it included a short stay at the LRI, two weeks being stabilised in the local Hospice, and latterly in a nursing home. Kerry never wanted our four girls to see her condition getting worse.
Sadly, on April 7th at lunchtime Kerry died, peacefully in a local nursing home just 20 days before her 46th birthday
One of her last wishes includes the continuation of OCAH, as a living vibrant memory of her and her pleasure in creating high quality, unique beautiful carriers for people like you to carry their loved ones. A lasting memory for our four beautiful daughters of her creative genius and business acumen. To that end Kerry’s father (Harry) and I have created a limited company called OCAH International which will have as its assets sole access to the OCAH patterns, on line presence and web site. Harry and I are in discussions with people who recognise the OCAH brand as a high-quality product with a superb reputation, these people are interested in purchasing the company and continue with the brand that Kerry created from nothing to an internationally renowned Baby carrier producer.
Life without Kerry feels impossible for the five of us, but our lives continue, and we will not only survive but move forward and part of that journey will be watching future pictures of the rejuvenated OCAH carriers being used by you and others.
Just to reiterate the fact that Kerry loved looking at your pictures carrying your kids in an OCAH, so do please continue to post them in her memory.
Thank you,
Dave

Please bear in mind that the seat dart on your Ocah will mean that your child will sit deep into the carrier which can sometimes make the height of the carrier seem a little longer.

*We have spent a lot of time perefecting our sizing and have found what works well but we are happy to discuss custom sizing our carriers for you.

All wraps and fabric are pre-washed before being cut and sewn, however the nature of wrap and other cotton fabric means that once washed the carrier will shrink temporarily. It is essential that you iron your carrier once it is dry in order that it regains its original shape. We recommend that you place a cotton cloth (a clean tea towel will do) over your carrier before ironing on a hot setting with steam, gently stretching the carrier back into shape whilst you iron.

To find out how to measure your Ocah carrier please take a look at these instructions :

May 22, 2017

Please read all of the following information before entering the draw. If you require any information before entering the draw please contact me via email at hello@ocah.co.uk

Additional information can be found down the right hand side of this blog post.

The draw for these slots is open now and will close at 12pm (lunch time - UK time) 25th May 2017.

To be included in the draw please follow the instructions below:

1) Send an Email to: hello@ocah.co.uk

2) In the subject section on your email type "count me in"

Work on these carriers will be completed in July.

If your name is selected in the random draw you will be sent an invoice for £160 for payment. This payment will secure your slot. Please do not enter the random draw if you cannot pay this deposit.

You do not have to include the " " so long as you type count me in it doesn't matter whether you use upper or lower case etc.

I have an automated filter on my email account for this draw, failure to type "count me in " in the subject header will mean that your entry will not be included in the draw.

Any entries sent outside the time stated above will not be entered in to the draw. It is not possible to confirm all entries have been received please check the details of your email carefully before sending.

PLEASE DO NOT ENTER THE DRAW IF YOU DO NOT INTEND TO PROCEED WITH ORDERING AN OCAH CARRIER. IF YOU ARE SELECTED IN THE DRAW. A £160 DEPOSIT IS REQUIRED WITHIN 24 HRS.

All Ocah designs are available for order including: Full buckle carriers, Reverse half buckles, Clipee carriers, Padded tie waist carriers etc BUT it is only the Ocah Full buckle design that is compliant to ASTM requirements and so the Full Buckle carrier is the only design that can be shipped to customers in the US.

Additional cost may be incurred depending on the design details that you choose to include on your custom carrier. Any additional cost will be invoiced when your carrier is due to be completed.

Order forms will need to be completed and your wrap in the studio by 25th June .

If I do not hear from you within 24 hrs of sending the invoice the offer of a custom slot will be withdrawn and I will re-draw your slot from the original list of people that entered the draw.

I am of course happy to answer any questions that you have regarding your slot before you complete your online form.

PLEASE NOTE: I do not allow people to transfer a custom slot to another person. If you go to the trouble of securing a slot I expect you to go ahead with placing an order for a conversion, it is you that I want to work with. If I find that someone has secured a slot and then transferred it to someone else I will cancel the slot and refund the customer less a £40 administration fee

Customers that request that their slot be cancelled after paying their deposit will receive a refund of their deposit less a £40 admin fee.

When the Draw closes I will allocate a number to each person that has entered the draw and using RANDOM ORG. I will allocate 15 custom slots.

Those people that have be successful in securing a custom slot will be notified by 8pm on Thursday 25th May.

May 14, 2017

A little reminder that I do not sew half conversions* and whilst I can usually make up for a slight short fall in a really special fabric you are desperate to send for converting it really is only small pieces that I am willing to add to your carrier.

Please do not do any of the following :

a) send 20" for me to make your carrierb) send me a large piece that is more than enough for your carrier but ask me to only use a too small length of it because you want to sell the remainder,c) send me exactly the right length of fabric but ask me to send a sizeable piece back so you can have a bag or toy or drool pads made .

I have sewn over 2000 carriers and have gotten the pattern piece layout down pretty tight. I have managed to squeeze carriers out of ring slings and some off larger of cut pieces so please do ask me if you have a piece that is smaller than what I usually ask for , I will do my best to make your carrier happen but if I say no ( it rarely happens) take it that it just isn't going to work.

April 11, 2017

Please read all of the following information before entering the draw.

To be included in the draw please follow the instructions below:

Send an Email to: hello@ocah.co.uk

In the subject section on your email type "count me in"

Work on these carriers will start at the end of May

Order forms will need to be completed and your wrap in the studio by 14th May (full details will be provided to those that secure a custom slot. )

If your name is selected in the random draw you will be sent an invoice for £160 for payment. This payment will secure your slot. Please do not enter the random draw if you cannot pay this deposit.

You do not have to include the " " so long as you type count me in it doesn't matter whether you use upper or lower case etc.

I have an automated filter on my email account for this draw, failure to type "count me in " in the subject header will mean that your entry will not be included in the draw.

Any entries sent outside the time stated above will not be entered in to the draw. It is not possible to confirm all entries have been received please check the details of your email carefully before sending.

PLEASE DO NOT ENTER THE DRAW IF YOU DO NOT INTEND TO PROCEED WITH ORDERING AN OCAH CARRIER. IF YOU ARE SELECTED IN THE DRAW. A £160 DEPOSIT IS REQUIRED WITHIN 48 HRS.

All Ocah designs are available for order including: Full buckle carriers, Reverse half buckles, Clipee carriers, Padded tie waist carriers etc BUT it is only the Ocah Full buckle design that is compliant to ASTM requirements and so the Full Buckle carrier is the only design that can be shipped to customers in the US.

Additional cost may be incurred depending on the design details that you choose to include on your custom carrier. Any additional cost will be invoiced when your carrier is due to be completed.

If I do not hear from you within 48 hrs of sending the invoice the offer of a custom slot will be withdrawn and I will re-draw your slot from the original list of people that entered the draw.I am of course happy to answer any questions that you have regarding your slot before you complete your online form.

PLEASE NOTE: I do not allow people to transfer a custom slot to another person. If you go to the trouble of securing a slot I expect you to go ahead with placing an order for a conversion, it is you that I want to work with. If I find that someone has secured a slot and then transferred it to someone else I will cancel the slot and refund the customer less a £40 administration fee

Customers that request that their slot be cancelled after paying their deposit will receive a refund of their deposit less a £40 admin fee.

When the Draw closes I will allocate a number to each person that has entered the draw and using RANDOM ORG. I will allocate 12 custom slots.

Those people that have be successful in securing a custom slot will be notified by 8pm on Thursday 13th April.

March 17, 2017

The front and reverse of the body and Sleep hood of this carrier are made using Artipoppe Argus Illusion and the shoulder and waist straps are made using fabric from The honeycomb Loom fabric.

The carrier has an adjustable sleep hood, Perfect Fit Adjusters with Ladder lock buckles that measure 17 - 20" long and a padded waist that measures 21" and has extra Top stitching and Dual Adjustable Buckles.

February 26, 2017

Please note: Unless you purchased a 2 for 1 slot in an auction during 2016 , then your custom slot is not and has never been transferable. I am aware that some custom slots have in recent months been offered up for sale. I have gone to great lengths to build a business that allows the customisation of carriers and work closely with Mamas on each and every carrier that I sew . I have few rules for customers but not selling or trading your Ocah custom slot is one of them so please respect this and only purchase a custom slot if you intend to go through with having a your own carrier made.

Kerry

x

Please read all of the following information before entering the draw.

**** I extended the draw and it is now open after I just announced it was open on Facebook ...oooops ! Gives everyone an extra 24 hrs to enter !

The draw will be open from 12pm (lunchtime) Monday ! 27th February until 12pm Thursday 2nd March( these are UK time )

To be included in the draw please follow the instructions below:

Send an Email to: hello@ocah.co.uk

In the subject section on your email type "count me in"

You do not have to include the " " so long as you type count me in it doesn't matter whether you use upper or lower case etc.

I have an automated filter on our email account for this draw, failure to type "count me in " in the subject header will mean that your entry will not be included in the draw.

Any entries sent outside the time stated above will not be entered in to the draw. It is not possible to confirm all entries have been received please check the details of your email carefully before sending.

PLEASE DO NOT ENTER THE DRAW IF YOU DO NOT INTEND TO PROCEED WITH ORDERING AN OCAH CARRIER. IF YOU ARE SELECTED IN THE DRAW. A £160 DEPOSIT IS REQUIRED WITHIN 48 HRS.

These carriers are due to be sewn during April.

Order forms will need to be completed and your wrap in the studio by Friday 31st March (full details will be provided to those that secure a custom slot. )

All Ocah designs are available for order including: Full buckle carriers, Reverse half buckles, Clipee carriers, Padded tie waist carriers etc BUT it is only the Ocah Full buckle design that is compliant to ASTM requirements and so the Full Buckle carrier is the only design that can be shipped to customers in the US.

If your name is selected in the random draw you will be sent an invoice for £160 for payment within 48 hrs. This payment will secure your slot. Please do not enter the random draw if you cannot pay this deposit.

Additional cost may be incurred depending on the design details that you choose to include on your custom carrier. Any additional cost will be invoiced when your carrier is due to be completed.

If I do not hear from you within 48 hrs of sending the invoice the offer of a custom slot will be withdrawn and I will re-draw your slot from the original list of people that entered the draw.I am of course happy to answer any questions that you have regarding your slot before you complete your online form.

PLEASE NOTE: I do not allow people to transfer a custom slot to another person. If you go to the trouble of securing a slot I expect you to go ahead with placing an order for a conversion, it is you that I want to work with. If I find that someone has secured a slot and then transferred it to someone else I will cancel the slot and refund the customer less a £40 administration fee

Customers that request that their slot be cancelled after paying their deposit will receive a refund of their deposit less a £40 admin fee.

When the Draw closes we will allocate a number to each person that has entered the draw and using RANDOM ORG. I will allocate 12 custom slots.

Those people that have be successful in securing a custom slot will be notified by 8pm on Thursday 2nd March.

January 23, 2017

The information here will act as a guide that you can refer back to as you work with us through the ordering process for your very own Ocah Wrap Conversion.

This page is only intended to be accessed by those people that have secured a slot and so I ask that you do not share the link to this page with anyone else.

The Order Form:

Now that you have purchased your slot we can get to work.

The link below will take you to our online order form......but wait ! before you fill in the form please make sure you have all of the details figured out.

If you need to ask for more information about your order or need some advice now is the time to get in touch, email me hello@ocah.co.uk and I will be happy to help you.

I work directly from a printed copy of each persons order form and cannot add details from subsequent emails that you might send asking that we make changes. If you do need to make changes after you have submitted your form I will ask you to start over again and send a new form to me.

I ask you that you submit your order form and have your wrap at our studio ready for sewing by March 10th Carriers will be sewn in the order that wraps and order forms are ready.

If your wrap is delayed please contact me as soon as possible as it might mean I will need to re-schedule when your carrier will be sewn.

Sending your wrap to me:

PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOUR WRAP IS WASHED AND IRONED BEFORE YOU SEND IT TO ME. If you are having a wrap sent directly from a vendor I will wash and iron your wrap for you, for everyone else there is a fee for washing and ironing wraps as it is time consuming process that causes delays.

If you are sending a wrap to us from within the EU:

PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOUR NAME IS SENT WITH YOUR WRAP !

Please proceed to send it when you are ready. I try and send emails to confirm your wraps arrival but on busy days in the studio we sometimes forget to get in touch, feel free to email me to check if your wrap has landed if you don't hear from me.

If you are sending your wrap to us from outside the EU:

PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOUR NAME IS SENT WITH YOUR WRAP !

What follows seem like a complex set on instructions in order to get your wrap to my studio but it really isn't too complicated at all I promise .

IMPORTANT: If you are shipping a wrap to us from outside of the EU (European Union) you must read the following information. Failure to comply with the following instructions may result in custom fees being applied to your wrap when it arrives in the UK.

We have worked very closely with the UK Customs and Excise Dept of HM Government and the following information is official information provided by the department.

There are 2 Simple Steps to ensuring that you have the correct information on your parcel before you send it to Ocah.

STEP 1:

Please clearly write on your parcel:

“IPR reference: IP/0902/288/17

CPC 60052300

Fabric to be sewn and returned to sender”

Ocah has applied for, and been given permission to use the UK Governments Inward processing Relief (IPR) on all Wraps being sent to Ocah in the UK.

In order are allowed to use IPR we are required to fill out a lot of forms when we receive each a parcel from outside the EU if we get this wrong we will be fined £2500.

STEP 2:

On the Customs Form that will be attached to the outside of your parcel write the value of your wrap as being worth no more than £15

Let us explain. The customs form is for the use of the UK Custom and Excise department.

The UK customs and Excise Dept add import duty to parcels assuming that they belong to me and that I will retain each wrap sent and so they charge custom fees according to the value of the purchase that they assume I have made. At no point will I own your wrap and so it has no value to me. Of course it doesn’t make sense to state that the wrap is worth £0 as this will simply cause confusion to the Customs department in the UK!

But please do not worry about the value of your wrap should the need arise for you to make a claim for a wrap lost in transit (touch wood this has never happened with any wrap sent to us in over 1000 orders!) Because when you send your wrap to us you should be able to insure your wrap at the Post office for its true value without the need to add this same value to the customs label.

Our Address:

Send your wrap to:

Ocah

4 Hollow Road

Anstey

Leicester

LE77FQ

UK

Confirmation of order details and Payment:

When I am ready to start sewing your Order I will email your order form back to you for you to check through the details before I start work. Please check your form and reply to my email with 48 hours.

Once I have received confirmation that you order details are correct I will then send you an invoice for any outstanding balance of the cost of your carrier or provide you with a refund if the cost is less than you have paid.

I do not start work on any carriers that haven't been paid for in full.

N.B: All wrap scraps are returned with completed carriers. PLEASE NOTE: I do not allow people to transfer a custom slot to another person. If you go to the trouble of securing a slot I expect you to go ahead with placing an order for a conversion, it is you that I want to work with. If I find that someone has secured a slot and then transferred it to someone else I will cancel the slot and refund the customer less a £40 administration fee

Customers that request that their slot be cancelled after paying their deposit will receive a refund of their deposit less a £40 admin fee.

Shipping you carrier back to you:

When your carrier has been sewn I will upload the pictures on to the Ocah FB page. Your carrier will be quality checked, pressed (ironed) and packed ready for posting. As I work on my own in the studio I am limited to how many trips I can take to the Post Office and so carriers are usually shipped 2-3 times each week.